AN: Finally another week down! I'm so ready for Summer Break! We started dissecting cats in lab this week! It's super weird touching a dead cat. But it's interesting to see the muscles. Tomorrow is my niece's birthday! She is turning 2 years old! Anyway let me stop blabbing about my life! Thanks for continuing to read and review! You guys don't know how much your kind words mean to me. J The story is officially 2 months old! Wow! Hard to believe!
Monday morning came bright and early. I groaned and yanked the blankets over my head. Is it already time to go back to school?! I thought.
Today we had to begin dissections, so I wore a pair of old scrubs I didn't mind getting dirty.
"You're wearing that? Honey, is everything okay?" My mom asked, standing at my bedroom door, eyeing my outfit.
"Dissection lab today, mom. I'm fine! Chill out!" I replied, chuckling. I grabbed my book bag and headed downstairs.
"Carly! Can we talk?" Tom Baker asked. I looked up at him and nodded. He sat down in front of me.
"Uh, sure. As long as you don't mind me eating lunch." I motioned toward the sub in my hand. He shook his head and threw me a friendly smile.
"You never got back to me about that date. Remember, I said I would hold you to it." Tom replied.
"Sorry, Tom, I virtually never have any time to go out." I said.
"What about tonight? You don't work on Mondays."
"No I don't. But my labs are late so that's the reason."
"Come on! You said you would! I won't take no for an answer."
"Fine. But only a quick dinner. As friends." I replied. I finished my sub and headed towards the stairs. I took them two at a time so I wouldn't be late.
I walked in the restaurant and immediately saw Tom at a table near the window. Drinks were already on the table. I sat down and a waiter came over.
"We want two of the specials." Tom said. The waiter nodded and walked off. "I hope you didn't mind my ordering for you?"
"No! It's fine. I've never eaten here, so I don't really know what's good."
"So how were your labs?" Tom asked.
"It was interesting. How is your lab instructor? I keep forgetting the class is separated into two groups." I replied.
"She's very nice. You end up teaching a lot of the information to yourself. But she's not too terribly hard. But enough about me. I ordered some wine. I hope that's ok."
"I'm not really a heavy drinker, but thanks."
"So, Carly, why do you avoid me so much?" Tom asked, reaching out to touch my hand. I shifted away and felt my face heat up. I could hear a hint of a slur in his words. He must have been drinking before I got here.
"I'm actually seeing someone, Tom."
"Who? That Mark guy? That's not serious is it?"
"Right now, it's in the beginning stages, but I want it to be. I didn't ask you out because of that." The waiter brought our food to the table. Tom and I started eating. He reached across the table and grabbed my hand. I pulled away. He grabbed my arm and pulled my body towards him. "Stop Tom! You're drunk. Leave me alone!" I tried to stand up but he held me down.
"Hey! Let her go. She doesn't want you to grab her." Ryan shouted. He came closer to our table and pushed Tom off of me. Tom scrambled to get up and Ryan punched him.
"Ryan! Stop! Let's just go!" I pulled Ryan away and we left the restaurant.
"Are you ok?" he asked once we got out.
"I'm fine. He was just drunk. I didn't want to go out tonight but he wouldn't let me say no. I figured I could settle it by meeting him and explaining that I am dating Mark." I said. I shivered and sighed. "Such a good plan I had, right? Thanks for coming to my aid. Why were you there anyway?"
"I was curious to try it and Mark and Matt said the food was good. So I called us in some dinner." He shrugged.
"Listen, I need to go home. Don't tell Mark just yet. I don't want to worry him." I replied. Ryan nodded and I walked to my car.